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Artisan's Artists' Materials Expo at the new downtown Santa Fe Convention Center will be September 17th, eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth, 2009. There will be multiple booths of art materials and workshops with the best regional and national artists. NOW everyone who registers for a Workshop at Artists' Materials Expo 2009 is invited to hang an artwork in the Artist Direct Gallery space on the Expo Exhibition floor.
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Reviews (26)
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Emily Dingman
May 27, 2022
A nice store for art supplies, focuses mostly on painting. Has a student discount, a bit disappointing in their selection for anything ink, colored pencil or marker.
Sea Lemon Hunt
May 26, 2022
Good little local art shop, good price on stretcher bars, some are a lil wobbly but still good. If you're a student you can get a student discount.
Ann B.
May 08, 2022
I have spent hundreds of dollars every semester in this store, hundreds. I bought a product, never even took it out of the box, brought it back the next day and their reaction was weird and made me feel so uncomfortable. I wasn't even asking for my money back. I was wanting to exchange it because my friend had me the same thing as a gift and I didn't know it when I purchased it, so I took it back and exchanged it.

When I walked in, with my product and receipt, I had literally bought the evening before and brought it back the next morning, I told them I had a return and none of them would even look at me. It was the strangest experience I ever had. I always bought from them before anywhere else to support local, small businesses but never again. If I can get it elsewhere?

I will. They are always out of stock as well. And they are usually always more expensive, but I still supported them whenever I could. Now I will only go there if I cannot go somewhere else. And I will never feel comfortable in that store ever again. I don't guess they need the business, that's sure how they made me feel. They forget me, the customer, pays their bills.
T.
Apr 26, 2022
Gret ptices, less than retail. Amazing paints, watercolours egg pigments, oils, acrylic, dtawing supplies, easels, canvas, erc, etc, etc.
Klf B.
Feb 18, 2022
Very pricey and a lot out of stock. Service was nice. They must have had a sale earlier because almost all the Acrylic paints were gone. Found not find white gesso either. Nor Titanium White Acrylic paint. Store nicely laid out in sections. Needs more art books
Cassie Holmes
Dec 28, 2021
They have everything that an art student or art enthusiast needs! Friendly and helpful employees. Always ample parking out front.
Val M.
Aug 28, 2021
They have a ton of cool stuff, but the staff are real jerks. My kid is starting at UNM on her art degree and they were rude to her and very condescending. Will do our best to never return.
JeNee Chinn
Jun 28, 2021
This was my first time in this lovely art store. The workers are very knowledgeable and helpful. They have a great selection of art supplies for those who are taking art classes or whose skill level is a step or two above what they sell at Hobby Lobby. They have very high quality supplies without having astronomical prices. I will definitely come back to shop here!

My daughter is a college art student and was so grateful she found what she needed here in town and she didn't have to order online! Take some time to check out this great art shop, you will be glad you stopped by!
K. E. Van Der Gaarden
Nov 03, 2020
Received the best advice, and also a warm welcome for where to post an upcoming solo exhibit/reception, by two different employees. Found exactly what I needed. My only caveat is the bad planning by CABQ for accessible parking. High sidewalks without a curbed slope for access. Because of that I wasn't able to use my manual wheelchair. I'll take it up with the City!
Tiffany Gonzalez
Apr 21, 2020
Great store and staff were wonderful. And if they don't have what your looking for, they'll order it or refer you somewhere they may carry it.
Steve H.
May 23, 2019
Excellent selection, knowledgable and friendly staff. I've been shopping here for acrylic and watercolor supplies since I moved to Albuquerque in February 18 and have always come away satisfied.
Karla S.
Feb 05, 2019
I enjoy browsing for art materials on my own, if you are looking for something specific they are helpful and informative about what they have to offer.
Trevor J.
Nov 26, 2018
Don't listen to the hater complaining about price ya it's the most expensive but it's also the only place that carries some of the materials needed for Art an Architectural schools super great for emergencies. Not to mention the staff is fantastic and super knowledgeable.
Dan N.
Jun 11, 2018
I have been going to Artisans for many years. The prices, the selection and, most importantly, the staff are all exceptional. The staff are nice and also very knowledgeable about how materials can be used. This is what is valuable about this store-the staff are artists skilled in various media and they are happy to answer questions about the use of materials and techniques. The store also offers classes in art at reasonable prices.
Mika Z.
Dec 20, 2017
The prices are ridiculous here. The only thing that keeps this place in business is the University art program. Otherwise, any artist knows you can get the same products online and save as much as a hundred dollars a pop. I have seen as much as 20% and 30% stacked on top of online prices from places like Jerry's Artarama and dick Blick. To make matters worse, the employees will follow you around like you are ripping them off. This place is crap.
Misty P.
Sep 23, 2017
I've been impressed and pleased every time I go in here. The prices are more reasonable than you'd expect from a brick-and-mortar store, and they gave a pretty good selection. The staff is nice and knowledgeable too.
Ryan B.
Feb 02, 2017
Cool place! have good experience in this big store. you can get lost in there though. easier if you just aks for help.
Matthew K.
Jan 16, 2017
Just went in here to grab some new markers, pens and some Bristol sheets. The people were friendly and helpfull. I look forward to shopping here again. Rock on with 20 billion Gobi Manchirian socks on. keep up the good work. Also thanks for not following me around the store like some dirty hippy drifter log shoplifter. Thats why we have wal-mart.
Butch C.
Jan 07, 2017
It's a good place to buy art supplies, staff is friendly. I only buy from them when I really need to, they are a little too expensive for my tastes and priced themselves out of my market. I buy just as good, or even better quality supplies from Amazon. Sure, there is a 2 day wait with a Prime account, but art emergencies where I need something right away are far and few between. Other than the price, it's a good place to shop but I wouldn't go there with a list of material for an art class, it would cost a fortune.
Tammy M.
Jan 28, 2016
I had a fabulous first experience in this well-stocked, wide range of products filled (thorough!), absolutely lovely little art supply store! I haven't been in college since 2009 and haven't taken any art classes in. well, let's just say waaaaay before that! I tried to find the items on my list on my own, but was more like a fish out of water, blindfolded.

I needed help navigating! Customer service: Jessica was friendly, kind, patient, and helpful; even thought the store was busy and short one staffer (from my understanding), she thoroughly answered my questions and directed me effortlessly through the unfamiliar store. Expensive? Well, yeah, but aren't art supplies expensive in general? I mean, making art costs money.

I think it's rather relative and, really, you get what you pay for. I like shopping local versus a chain. I like interacting with staff who are passionate about what they do, who use and understand the tools, and just know what they're talking about. So I don't think it's expensive, I think the experience and the positive impact on the local economy is priceless. Besides, students get 10% off, so that can keep a few five-spots in your pocket! Bottom line: I got everything on my list. I found value and I got what I paid for. I am excited to go back and explore the store even more!
Nathan H.
Oct 02, 2015
Good place to find those more obscure and higher quality art supplies that larger art stores just don't bother with. Prices tend to be par for stores like this and staff tends to reserved, but generally come off friendly if you talk to them.
Nohe L.
Jul 21, 2015
Super Ego Store!. Bad experience with service. Is very expensive and plus they have a very different policies about return or exchange items than other places. If you are not completely confident in purchasing some items, is better you go Michaels or Hobby Lobby, they are more flexible in the return policies for SURE!. Nobody smile and some arrogance in the ambience.
Tricia R.
Jun 17, 2015
I was passing through town and wanted some supplies, feeling creative. I called this place since I would get there close to closing. They were super nice. I had 2 people showing me stuff, they didn't rush even though door was locked. I left w great supplies and bunch of recommendations for restaurants to try. Thanks lovely people, you were super helpful!
Nat S.
Jan 24, 2014
Great selection, knowledgeable staff, kind of expensive. I went in for some pastel paper, and a couple solvents. I think it came to 34$. Went with the quick dry Laquin after talking to the man at the counter. I was using it to blend high grade oil pastels. If you are looking for real artist grade obscure products go here. Such as high grade oil and regular pastels. Kolinsky sable brushes, Arches sheets and many other fine papers.

I usually put in a order to Dick Blick a couple times a year because like many artists I am not rich. I will admit I shop at Micheal's sometimes, when I have a 50% off an item coupon. But I don't feel good about it. Though you find some weird seasonal and children's toys.
S. P.
Sep 21, 2013
Very rarely do I drive out of my way to visit a specific store. However, Artisan sounded like a place I wanted to check out so after a long day at work I trekked a few miles out of my way to make a pit stop. Let me be clear before I go on a tirade: Artisan is an art supply store and carries a fairly decent selection of products most artists would want (although at somewhat elevated prices).

It fills the shoes of an art store just fine. HOWEVER. this is honestly one of the worst cases of bad customer service I have seen in a store of this type. The staff are downright rude and make it obvious that they feel you are inconveniencing them. There wasn't a helpful soul in this store except for another customer who seemed to know more than the staff and eventually helped me find what I wanted (which ended up being in Walmart for a lot cheaper).

Beyond the abysmal service from the staff, the store is also very poorly organized. Notebooks I was in search of were scattered between multiple sections of the store and had no rhyme or reason that I could see. That doesn't mean that there wasn't a reason, just that it didn't seem apparent to me as a customer. I really hate stores like this that have a specialty product that you need but fail in every other way.

These are the places that force me to want to buy everything online where it is clearly organized and I don't have to deal with people who are dicks. The only reason this place earns 2 stars is because they actually have some of the product that I expected and now I know exactly what I need when I buy it from someone else.
Annie J.
Sep 28, 2012
First of all, I can't believe I'm the first person to give a review for Artisan. They are a very good art supply store, and they are located in the University area. Overall the staff is extremely helpful. Have a great selection of art supplies from an extensive matt framing section to a wide variety of paints, pastels, some craft items, markers and pens of all types, and a solid selection of easels, just to name a few, and they enjoy sharing their knowledge of what they do carry.

They could improve their customer service when it comes to helping with choosing matts for framing. Sure, they probably figure we're all artists in the store, but sometimes it's nice to be able to bounce ideas off of other people. They aren't a framing shop. So far I've always found what I was looking for when I've been here. They are a place an artist can depend on.